Worn concrete mixer components and digital wear maps

Figure: Sicoma

Fig. 1: Twin-shaft mixer and mixing components: (a) the machine, (b) the tank and mixing components: 1: Scraper, 2: Blade, 3: Arm and connection, 4: Shaft

Figure: Sicoma

Fig. 2: L-blade

Figure: Sicoma

Fig. 3: FreeScan X7

Figure: Sicoma

Fig. 4: 3D digital map of the material loss

Figure: Sicoma

Maria Cristina Valigi
Associate Professor of Mechanics of Machines at University of Perugia, Italy. Her research interests are: Tribology (lubrication models, contact models and wear measures), mechanical vibrations, modeling and control of mechanical systems.

Silvia Logozzo
Mechanical Engineer for Automation and Robotics, PhD in Industrial Engineering, expert in mechatronic systems, scanning systems and tribology. She is a researcher in applied mechanics at University of Perugia.

Luca Galletti
Graduated in mechanical engineering at the University of Perugia. Since 2019, in addition to the area research and development management, Luca Galletti is Managing Director in O.M.G.

Lorenzo Bachini
Graduated in Mechanical Engineering at University of Perugia. He works in research and development area in Officine Meccaniche Galletti srl.

This article briefly presents a wear map example of a L-shaped blade mounted on a concrete twin shaft mixer. This evaluation was carried out through a method developed by the University of Perugia that can be applied to both mechanical and biomechanical components, but it was validated for the first time in the study of the blades of a planetary mixer.

In concrete mixers and in general in all machines, the knowledge of how some components wear out is useful both to evaluate their useful life and to optimize their design for reducing consumptions [1-3]. This article briefly presents a wear map example of a L-shaped blade mounted on a concrete twin shaft mixer. This is an experimental evaluation using a 3D optical scanning technology whose results are displayed in color maps describing the distribution of wear over the component’s surface.

This evaluation was carried out through a method developed by the University of Perugia that can be...